Hallelujah

[pandaemonaeum]

I don't make any secret of the fact that I like Leonard Cohen. He writes beautifully crafted songs. One of my favourites is 'Hallelujah'. I love his version (almost a hymn, absolutely wonderful) and Jeff Buckley's version is absolutely how one should do a cover version.

Today has seen the news that an X-Factor finalist will release it as single. We don't know which one, but as they all subscribe to the Whitney Houston school of 'holler as loudly as you can and hope for the best', I have no hopes for it, I only pray that the cover won't be so bad it ruins the original for me, like the new Star Wars films.

Anyway. There is also the interesting news that, due to a slew of downloads of the Jeff Buckley version, it is sitting at number 34 in the midweek charts.

Sony won't re-release the Jeff Buckley version as they also handle the X-Factor finalist, and too much rides on the Christmas number #1 for them to release a rival for it.

So, if you are downloading music this week, it might be an idea to grab this track, and register a great big 'eff off' to the talentless noise-polluters that populate terrible TV 'talent' shows....

Comments

[jaynedoll.livejournal.com]

The fact they had already picked this track makes me think they had a fair idea who they wanted to win as I can only really imagine Diana doing it and even then I could really do without the hand waving and overall feeble warblings of her.

[rogsta.livejournal.com]

I'm gutted. There have been a few covers of the song, but Jeff Buckley's is most definately my favourite. To have it brought into the noughties, tacky pop era is just distressing.

[ladyasenath.livejournal.com]

I've loved that song ever since I heard it in "Shrek" and that version remains my favourite (John Cale).